Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-08-03
HANNAH'S CHILD.
A Short, Pathetic Story From Real
Life.
[Original.1

on whom her family naturally leaned,
and she, as naturally, took the lead in
all undertakings.
When she married John Wilson, she
carried all her energies into her new
life. John, easy-going mortal, was
quite content to let her manage and
was wont to remark that he had the
most capable wife in all Ashford. Why
she married him will forever remain
one of the mysteries of which matri-
monial life furnishes so many examples.
Certain it is that Johns affairs never
had prospered as they had since Han
nah was at the helm. Their two boys
were sturdy little chaps, and Hannah
already had the Oldest apprenticed to a
carpenter; the other was to have just
one year more at the district school
and then he, too, was to go to work.
Into Hannah's life now came the
poetry of her existence; her baby
daughter, with her blue eyes and sunny
hair, seemed creature of another
world, almost; she was so dainty and
ethereal, that the voice insensibly soft
ened when addressed to her. For her,
Hannah toiled early and late, taking
satisfaction in seeing her life made as
happy as possible. The little pet, Rose,
Hannah called her, repaid her mothers
affection with such sweetness and love
that Hannah said it rested her just to
look at the darling.
She was two years old when her
mother was stricken with a slow fever.
After little, she recognized the fact
that the time had come when she must
resign her life's work to another. If
it was not for Rose, she thought, she
would be willing to go, for
she was very tired, and rest
looked sweet. But Rose! As if in Il
prophetic vision Hannah saw John with
out her to lean upon, losing ground,
his own shiftlessness bringing dad
luck, gradually sinking to the level of
common poor folks. The boys had in
heritcd enough of her own spirit to
make their own way in the world. But
her little blossom, how could she bear
such life! She thought long and deep
ly; she had no relatives then to whom
she could conide her darling What
could she doP At last she asked the
neighbor who was taking care of her to
give her writing material. With great
effort she wrote Il letter and directed il
to my precious daughter, Rose Wilson;
to be given to her on her eighteenth
birthday" Then asking for a certain
box which contained few trinkets she
took off her wedding ring and placed it
and the letter in the box, and tying il
| up directed it as she had the letter.
There, dear" said the woman,
crest; you are all tired out"
After " little, the sick woman asked
for her baby, and embracing her most
tendcrly she laid back on her pillows
| exhausted.
When her husband came home she
reused herself, and reckoning him to
her side she said:
John, am going away from YOU
"Oh, Hannah! / can't live without
you"
"You must" she answered. Listen
to me: After am gone want you to
find some Christian lady who will take
| Rose for her very own and raise her as
her own child. You can't take care OF
her, my poor John. Ask the lady to
give her this box when she is eighteen
years old. Mrs. Brown will take care
of her till you find the right person. /
have prayed over il and am sure this
is best. You and the boys must do the
best you can. Try, John, and make the
most of yourself and them" Turning
to the boys, with faltering, sinking
| voice, she said:
| "Ncvcr - do - any = thing - you
would-be-a ashamed -to-havc-your
-mother-know, and-take-care- OF
|-your-fathcr'--
| And Hannah was at rest.
| Mrs Alden was entertaining a num-
Der Of her friends in her own enviable
style when chance remark of one
lady about her little girl brought from
other mothers similar instances of the
matchless perfection of their darlings,
and Mrs. Alden said
Really, ladies, ! quite envy you.
] think that Christian mother is the
highest type of womanhood.
IF were you, Mrs. Alden, l would
adopt child" said one of her friends.
1--WE have thought of it," she said,
"but would not take child of vicious
percentages; ! am too strong believer
in hereditary traits of character, and
it is almost impossible to find such q
child as we would wish to take to our
hearts free from its natural guardians
81 think" said q quiet little lady,
"that if you are in earnest can direct
you to little girl who is free from any
objection you speak of. My daughter
came home this morning from visit
to her old nurse, and was very enthusi-
astic about the charms of little girl
she saw there, whose mother, a very
nice woman, died short time ago,
and the father wishes TO find good
home for her, and will give her up en-.
tirely to the right person."
WELL" said Mrs. Alden, "if you
will go with me tomorrow, will &c
and SEQ her anyhow" t+
1t excited some curiosity in c.
street when Mrs. Alden's elcgan,
equipage stopped at Mrs. Browns
door Rose, as well as the other chill.
lrcn, pressed her face close to the win
dow to see the pretty horses. As Mrs
Alden saw her lovely face she ex
claimed:
what q little beautyI''